Norway - especially along the west coast where we were most of the time - is known for its seafood. In Bergen, there is a market set out in open walk areas with fish plucked from the oceans and fjords that surround. I was worried that I would have a hard time finding veggies, but those were abundant as well. All kinds of berries, including "cloudberry" (didn't try it, but maybe it is to Norway what vegemite is to Australia). Raspberries were growing wild while we were there. Sheep and goats graze near their keepers' homesteads, frequently without fences. It looked like some were wild in the mountains too. I even saw cows just roaming about.
Additionally, there are open cabins scattered around the countryside that anyone can use. There's a network of locals throughout the country that maintain them on a basic level, so hikers, skiers, and cyclists can have someplace to stay. We saw many people on the trains with bikes, packs, and dogs that would just get off the train, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, and set off.
Norwegians pay a great deal in taxes, and if this hadn't been tied into Troy's business trip, it would have been hard to afford. But they are also known for incredible humanitarian efforts, giving more per capita than anyone else in the world. As expensive as it is to live or visit there, you also get a new level of freedom. Open cabins and no fences, there's that raw feeling that you could just walk off into the woods and eat berries until you were sick of yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if some people do.
I loved it there, and hope to have a chance to go back someday. We didn't have a chance to go very far north, which will be a very different experience I believe from what we think of as typical Norway. Oslo is the most known city in Norway, and we only spent a couple days there. It was more Bohemian than we imagined. Maybe it was just the time of year - drunk on daylight. Everyone was having a great time.
Troy and I were in Norway from July 23 to August 1, 2005.
The first five days were spent in Bergen ("Gateway to the Fjords"). A small city of about 250,000, we anticipated rain nearly everyday we were there, but got none. A beautiful and earthy city with great food and hiking all around. Troy had to work most of the time, but with the sun staying out 'til past our bedtime, we could still get some trekking and beer in every evening.
Thursday afternoon we took the train to Flam for a couple days. This was Troy's favorite. Flam is located at the end of one of the most beautiful fjords. It's a tiny town of about 300, but fills up with tourists at periods during the day. Mountains bulging at almost every point around you, the fjord is like a long tongue surrounded by teeth. Our room was ideal at the Furokroa. Next time around I'm sure we'll spend a few more days here, and get some bikes - pack light and coast down from Myrdal.
There's a picture of the Myrdal train station, but I never saw the town with the population anywhere nearby. I loved this little train station! There were people with huge packs towering up over their heads, dogs eager to hit the trails, and bikes everywhere. The air felt fresh and still, quiet until the train came in.
Saturday afternoon we spent on the train to Oslo. The countryside is fairytale-like. I wouldn't mind getting off at one of those points just east of Myrdal and biking about there.
Sunday it rained! We spent the day between two museums: the Viking Ship Museum (highly recommended by others, but paled to the next), and the Fram - all about polar exploration, Amundsen, Shackleton, and Scott. It inspired us to read up more on the subject upon return.
Got back Monday afternoon, Aug. 1, in sore need of sleep. It was a fabulous vacation.
